Vented compressor lubrication system
First Claim
1. In a refrigeration compressor comprising an outer shell having a lubricant containing sump in a lower portion thereof, compressor means disposed within said shell, said compressor means including motor means operative to drive said compressor means, a drive shaft interconnecting said compressor means and said motor means, pump means disposed in said sump and operative to pump lubricant from said sump to said compressor means, said drive shaft having an axially extending passage provided therein for supplying lubricant from said pump means to said compressor means, said pump means including a housing having means defining a pumping chamber, inlet and outlet passages communicating with said pumping chamber and a pumping member within said chamber for drawing lubricant from said sump through said inlet and discharging said lubricant through said outlet, the improvement comprising first vent means in said housing opening outwardly from said pumping chamber and second vent means in said pumping member communicating with said first vent means in said housing whereby refrigerant gas carried by said lubricant may be vented from said pump, and vent means in said drive shaft extending generally radially from said passage means to the outer surface of said drive shaft, said vent means including a first portion extending from said passage to approximately the axis of rotation of said drive shaft and a second portion extending to said outer surface, said second portion having a cross sectional areas greater than said first portion.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved lubrication system for a refrigeration compressor is disclosed which lubrication system incorporates filtering arrangement for filtering lubricant supplied to a two stage lubricant pump and unique venting arrangement for venting gaseous refrigerant entrained within the lubricant. The two stage pump incorporates a vent passage in the first stage portion thereof which aids in avoiding a possible interruption of lubricant flow due to gaseous refrigerant within the first stage. A second radially extending restricted vent passage is provided in the drive shaft intermediate the ends thereof which is also designed to vent gaseous refrigerant while resisting the flow of lubricant therethrough so as to avoid priming thereof which could enable the passage to begin pumping lubricant.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. In a refrigeration compressor comprising an outer shell having a lubricant containing sump in a lower portion thereof, compressor means disposed within said shell, said compressor means including motor means operative to drive said compressor means, a drive shaft interconnecting said compressor means and said motor means, pump means disposed in said sump and operative to pump lubricant from said sump to said compressor means, said drive shaft having an axially extending passage provided therein for supplying lubricant from said pump means to said compressor means, said pump means including a housing having means defining a pumping chamber, inlet and outlet passages communicating with said pumping chamber and a pumping member within said chamber for drawing lubricant from said sump through said inlet and discharging said lubricant through said outlet, the improvement comprising first vent means in said housing opening outwardly from said pumping chamber and second vent means in said pumping member communicating with said first vent means in said housing whereby refrigerant gas carried by said lubricant may be vented from said pump, and vent means in said drive shaft extending generally radially from said passage means to the outer surface of said drive shaft, said vent means including a first portion extending from said passage to approximately the axis of rotation of said drive shaft and a second portion extending to said outer surface, said second portion having a cross sectional areas greater than said first portion.
- 2. In a refrigeration compressor comprising an outer shell having a lubricant containing sump in a lower portion thereof, compressor means disposed within said shell, said compressor means including motor means operative to drive said compressor means, pump means disposed in said sump and operative to pump lubricant from said sump to said compressor means, said pump means including a housing having means defining a pumping chamber, inlet and outlet passages communicating with said pumping chamber and a pumping member within said chamber for drawing lubricant from said sump through said inlet and discharging said lubricant through said outlet, the improvement comprising first vent means in said housing opening outwardly from said pumping chamber and including exit opening in the housing wall is below the lubricant level in said sump, and second vent means in said pumping member communicating with said first vent means in said housing whereby refrigerant gas carried by said lubricant may be vented from said pump into said sump.
- 13. In a refrigeration compressor comprising an outer shell having a lubricant containing sump in a lower portion thereof, compressor means disposed within said shell, said compressor means including motor means operative to drive said compressor means and pump means having an inlet communicating with said sump, said pump means being operative to supply lubricant to said compressor means from said sump, the improvement comprising filter means within said sump, said filter means extending from said pump means to said shell in surrounding relationship to said pump inlet to thereby inhibit flow of foreign particles through said pump means to said compressor means.
- 24. In a refrigeration compressor comprising an outer shell having a lubricant sump in a lower portion, compressor means disposed within said shell, said compressor means including a compressor, motor means, a drive shaft drivingly connecting said motor means to said compressor means, one end of said drive shaft extending into said lubricant sump, bearing means for rotatably supporting said drive shaft, and axially extending passage means within said drive shaft for conducting lubricant from said sump to said bearing means, the improvement comprising generally radially extending vent means in said drive shaft intermediate the ends thereof, said vent means including a first restricted portion opening into said axially extending passage and a second portion opening outwardly of said drive shaft, said vent being operative to allow flow of gaseous refrigerant from said axial passage and to resist flow of lubricant therethrough.
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30. A variable speed refrigeration compressor comprising:
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an outer shell having a lubricant sump in a lower portion thereof; compressor means within said shell; motor means; a drive shaft drivingly interconnecting said motor means and said compressor means, one end of said drive shaft extending into said supply of lubricant in said sump; bearing means rotatably supporting said drive shaft; primary pump means drivenly connected to said one end of said drive shaft and having an inlet and an outlet; secondary pump means within said drive shaft, said secondary pump means having an inlet connected to said outlet of said primary pump means and an outlet; passage means within said drive shaft for supplying lubricant from said outlet of said secondary pump means to said bearing means; and vent means for said primary pump means extending outwardly from between said inlet and said outlet thereof and opening directly into sump, said vent means being operative to vent refrigerant drawn into said primary pump means. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification